Centralized route calculation for a multi-hop streetlight network

Abstract

A system and various apparatus and methods performed therein configured for calculating routes touching and monitoring and controlling streetlights includes a multiplicity of streetlight controllers and a local coordinator. Each streetlight controller includes a switch operative to control the operation of a load, a sensor operative to monitor the operation of the load, a processor, and a radio transceiver operative to receive control data and transmit data associated with the streetlight controller. The local coordinator includes a coordinator radio transceiver, and a coordinator processor operative to maintain a list of the multiplicity of streetlight controllers and, cooperatively with the coordinator radio transceiver, exchange messages with any of the multiplicity of streetlight controllers.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 967,810 entitled “Centralized Route Calculation for a Multi-Hop Network” filed Sep. 7, 2007 which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application relates to communications techniques for Streetlight Monitoring and Control Systems, such as the one described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 899,841 entitled “Streetlight Monitoring and Control” and filed on Sep. 7, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates in general to streetlight monitoring and control systems and more specifically such techniques, apparatus, and systems using multi-hop networks.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Wireless streetlight control systems generally involve the control of hundreds or more streetlights distributed over a wide geographic area. Ad hoc deployable wireless networks are an emerging technology with applications in a variety of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a system for monitoring and controlling streetlights using a multi-hop network. The system uses wireless networks to control and monitor the streetlights, which can be distributed over a wide geographic area. The system uses a centralized controller to manage the network and communicate with the streetlights. The patent describes various methods for organizing the network, discovering nodes, and communicating between them. The technical effects of this invention include improved efficiency and reliability of wireless networks for monitoring and controlling streetlights, as well as improved connectivity and communication between the centralized controller and the streetlights within the system.

Problems solved by technology

Communications may be multi-hop and of mesh topology due to the restricted range and reliability of radio frequency transmissions that don't consume a significant amount of electrical power and are of reasonable cost.

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